However, there have been significant changes regarding the origin of contraband and the black market’s regional structure.
Serbia is now the main source for the illicit cigarette trade, with a share of 29.1% in total smuggling, up 8.3 points on March. Inflows of illicit products from Moldova remain on a downward trend.
From a regional perspective, cigarette smuggling has grown substantially in the south-west (6 points up to 14%) and north-east (6.1 points up to 28.3%). The highest share of smuggling occurs in the west (4.7 points up to 35.7%), while in the other regions, the illegal trade has decreased: in Bucharest it lost 5.7 points down to 8.1%, in the north-west it was down 5.7 points to 15.1%, and in the south-east it shrunk by 6.5 points to 3.8%.
Adrian Popa, Director Corporate & Regulatory Affairs at BAT Romania, said cigarette smuggling has declined from more than 36% to 13% in the last two years. “Still, in May 2011, the black market made up 11.8% and in May 2012, it was at 13.3%. This share means the state budget lost around EUR400 million in unpaid taxes,” he added.